I love London, I love theatre land, unfortunately I don’t
get there as often as I would like, which is why I love the National Theatre’s
live streaming of some truly remarkable performances.
The Barbican’s current run of Hamlet staring Benedict
Cumberbatch was the latest offering, which I was glad to see knowing I wouldn’t
otherwise get the opportunity to see the performance.
The Barbican is a grade two listed building, from architects
Chamberlin, Powell and Bon as part of the regeneration of London’s bombed
landscape. It opened in 1982 and is
Europe’s largest multi arts and conference venues.
Hamlet (5 August – 31 October 2015) Shakespeare’s great
tragedy has been adapted for the stage by Director Lyndsey Turner and Producer
Sonia Friedman. The run time is
approximately 1 hour 50 minutes.
Hamlet played by Benedict Cumberbatch is grieving for the
loss of his father and is enraged by the marriage of his mother to his
uncle. As war looms outside the gates of
their castle the family and it’s subjects start to tear themselves apart.
Visited by the ghostly visage of his father, Hamlet swears
to avenge his murder, with the wit of his well-known Sherlock character and
filled with energy and emotion Cumberbatch thrills as the title character who
plays both plotter and mad man with reverence and magnificence seldom seen in
previous portrayals.
Sian Brooke gives a moving portrayal of Ophelia demented by
madness and Ciaran Hinds is villainous as Hamlet’s uncle.
Visually the set is stunning and mix of contemporary and
classic styles fold together beautifully.
This is by far the best adaptation of this great work I have
seen.
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